Pardes from Jerusalem

What is our responsibility to the rest of the world, and how might that impact the image that we want to project to humanity at large? Tovah Leah Nachmani joins us in the studio this week to discuss Yitro, an outsider whose story appears alongside the covenantal moment of receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. How does Yitro, and by contrast Amalek, offer competing models for how the Jewish people may...

Dive on in as Yiscah Smith joins Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield to discuss the story of the Red Sea, reminding us that we had to first jump into the water before it would split. Can we view faith as a concious choice, rather than a reaction? If so, how can we find the strength and resilience to make this choice and hold to our faith when facing immense difficulties? During our discussion, Yiscah challenges...

On the cusp of leaving Egypt, the children of Israel are told that they must remember the Exodus. For over 2,000 years, this commandment to remember the past has helped the Jewish people remain connected to their history as a people. Yet, is that enough for us to remain united as well? In this week's episode, Rafael Polisuk joins Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield for a deep dive into what united the children...

How may we be redeemed when we feel as if our spirits have been crushed? Rabbi Leon Morris joins us this week to discuss the idea of kotzer ruach, a crushed soul, and how Moshe faced resistance from those who could not believe that redemption was at hand. Bringing modern relevance to the redemption story, we'll unpack what it means to be kotzer ruach, and how we might break out of a state despair...

This week, we begin the book of Shemot and are introduced to Moshe. Yet, by the time Moshe takes up the mantle of leadership, he’s already in his later years, and his developmental years are practically skipped over. Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy joins us this week to examine those developmental years with three stories; Moshe’s smiting of the Egyptian slavemaster, his stepping in during a conflic...

When thinking of traditional inheritance, we often think of the firstborn as being the main heir, and in many ways the Torah confirms this, yet throughout the book of Bereishit we see the script being flipped, with the younger sibling receiving the greater blessing. The final example of this appears at Ya'akov's deathbed, where he blesses his descendants and uses his dominant hand to bless Ephraim...

Can the pains of the past be overcome, opening the way for relationships to heal and be redefined? In this week's parsha, we witness the emotional reunion between the sons of Israel, with Yosef revealing himself to the brothers who had once thrown him into a pit and, ignoring his pain and pleas, sold him into slavery. Rabba Shani Gross joined our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield to discuss the relations...

What might Yosef's story, so full of pain yet hope, teach us about maintaining our own faith during difficult times? During these challenging times, many feel themselves torn between a desire to stand firmly in their Jewish identities and values and the feeling that they must hide their identity. In this week's parsha discussion, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Jon Leener explore this familiar fee...

What can the mitzvah of yibum, Levirate marriage, teach us about making difficult decisions and personal growth? In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman unpack the complicated family dynamics of Yehudah, his sons, and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. As the only mitzvah in the Torah that allows one to "opt-out", Levirate marriage provides an o...

What can a fraught meeting between brothers teach us about our own instincts? The events of October 7 shattered the worldview for many of us, and can cause us to approach how we understand the Torah differently. In this week’s episode, Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield unpack the emotionally charged reunion between Ya’akov and Esav and the fears that Ya’akov might have deal...

What might Ya'akov’s nocturnal revelation teach us about how to approach darkness? As we continue to pray for the safe return of the hostages and yearn for better days ahead, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy delve into what tools this week’s parsha might give us for getting through these difficult days. Together, they will explore how Ya'akov's divine encounter teaches us ab...

The book of Bereishit, filled with the themes of covenant and birthright, tells the story of the progenitors of the Jewish people. Among the many characters we meet in the book are pairs of siblings of which one gets chosen as the inheritor of the covenant, while the other is subject to a different fate. Why was it that these forefathers were forced to choose only one of their children to continue...

What does the Torah teach us about encountering grief? As we mourn the tragedies of October 7, Ilana Gleicher-Bloom and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield explore Avraham and Yitzchak's response to the passing of Sarah. How does Avraham mourn for his wife, and why is it that he does not interact with his own son in such a vital moment? Meanwhile, Yitzchak looks to comfort from an unexpected source. What can we...

Do we allow our pursuit of spirituality to get in the way of true divine connection? In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Yiscah Smith and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield discuss Parshat Vayera through the lens of human and divine connection. When the three strangers arrive at Avraham's tent, we find Avram in the midst of a deep spiritual moment, yet he immediately shifting to greet the new arri...

This episode is sponsored by Jeff and Alissa Hurok in honor of their dear friends and family who have engaged with and enhanced Jeff’s Torah study and have encouraged his participation with Pardes. Judy Klitsner joins us in the studio for a profound journey through the book of Bereishit and Parshat Lech Lecha, unraveling the intricate relationship between the individual and society. From the creat...

Dedicated to the healing of those who were injured, to the memory of those who lost their lives, and with hopes and prayers for the rescue of all those who are being held hostage. Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before October 7 and touches on the themes of destruction and loss, good and evil, and how communities might react in times of crisis. We want to acknowledge that these themes may re...

Dedicated to the healing of those who were injured, to the memory of those who lost their lives, and with hopes and prayers for the rescue of all those who are being held hostage. Including an opening message from Pardes President Rabbi Leon Morris. In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, we begin the cycle anew with a return visit from Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators,...

"Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom God singled out, face to face..." Rabbi Amirit Rosen joins Zvi in the studio to discuss the final words of the Torah, the last words of Moses to the Jewish people. Amirit teaches us how the Torah ends by reminding us of one of the darkest moments in the Exodus, that of the Golden Calf and the shattering of the first tablets. This re...

Rabbi Michael Hattin returns to the studio to explore the multifaceted holiday of Sukkot. From its dual nature balancing community and individual perspectives to its fusion of agricultural and historical significance, Sukkot seemingly weaves together separate messages. Join Michael and Zvi as they dissect this duality, searching for unifying themes and delving into the deeper meanings behind Sukko...

In this week's episode, Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek calls into the studio to speak with our host, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield, about one of the most challenging days of the year, Yom Kippur, and the story of Yonah. Why would Yonah be so upset that his prophecies were heard? Was it that Yonah possibly lacked empathy and compassion for the people of Nineveh due to knowledge of their upcoming role in the dest...

This Rosh Hashana podcast is sponsored by Ricki and David Bernstein in memory of Ricki’s parents, Beatrice and Murray Kirschblat z"l, survivors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, respectively. Beatrice and Murray were each the sole survivors of large families which perished in the Shoah. What motivates us to make changes in our lives? Tovah Leah Nachmani joins Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield in the Pardes from Je...

Rabbi Michael Hattin returns to the studio to discuss this week's double-parsha, Nitzavim-Vayelech and how the Torah teaches us to live within the tension of accepting imperfections while striving to always improve ourselves. As the Children of Israel stand poised to enter the Land of Israel, the Covenant between them and God is reaffirmed, yet there is an underlying anxiety in Moshe's speech. Did...

Zvi is joined this week by Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy, who shares with us her insights into connecting our personal story to the story of the Jewish people, and doing so can give us the gift of gratitude and generosity.  The conversation also delves into the topic of how our physical connection to the land can serve as a doorway to a more powerful spiritual connection. Read this week's parsha h...

In this week's episode, Zvi is joined by Yiscah Smith for a discussion of the mitzvah of "sending away the mother bird," and how the Talmudic rejection of finding reasons for the commandment became an invitation for Hasidic thinkers to explore even deeper. While we started with this example, our conversation broadened out to a wider on the topic of finding the balance between external authority an...

What are the three kinds of leadership the Torah requires the Jewish people to create when they become Sovereign in their own Land? What are their roles and the potential dangers inherent in the powers they hold? In this week's Torah Talk, Zvi is joined by Tovah Leah Nachmani to discuss Parshat Shoftim's profound insights into the complexities and potential pitfalls of leadership. We will examine...